We can minimize our fossil fuel use and support makers near us by buying more from local makers (and a lot less from big stores). I want to keep highlighting amazing makers in the US, and I feel like my Etsy links can get caught in the more mainstream shuffle. So let's look at some of the best stuff together. 

from Juniper Seed Mercantile

We know that the majority of the cleaning detergents and supplies sold in stores are loaded with unnatural chemicals that are bad for our bodies and our homes, but what is the alternative? First, for most everything, you can make something yourself (and don't get me started on just how easy vinegar and orange peel is to make- how did these all purpose cleaners ever make money?).

If you don't have time to sew your own sponges and make your own window cleaner, you can find naturally made cleaners and detergents on Etsy. One good way to do it might be to have someone else's formula to start as you work out how to make your own cleaners (you can find every recipe you need for the kitchen and bathroom here). Cleaners like these could also make excellent gifts! Here are some good shops to start:

JuniperseedMerc

This Colorado-based shops makes beauty supplies as well, but my favorite items are their cleaning supplies. They make fizzy bombs to help keep the toilet clean, and they offer scrubbing pads, vinegars, and more.

MilamCo

This company sells toilet tabs that have stellar reviews. My favorite thing about them is that you can buy refills instead of getting a bunch of unnecessary packaging again and again (in fact, you could just start with refills and use a container you already have).

RFRESHSOAP

This California-based store sells natural solid dish soaps. This is a newer shift you can make with your dishes, but the soap tends to last longer, and you keep a bunch of unknown chemicals off of your food surfaces.

ButterMeUpOrganics

This store (also based in California) has a lot of variety in their cleaning products, with everything from cleaners to soap nuts (never heard of them? Look them up, because they are pretty cool).  This might be a cool place to start if you want to try a bunch of things since you aren't sure yet.

naturalremediesbysam

If you aren't ready to give up your spray cleaners (me either) but you aren't quite ready to make the leap to making your own, check out the sprays from naturalremediesbysam. Her natural cleaners probably don't have a ton of materials in them, but it can be a great way to try out a natural cleaner before you buy one yourself.



Have a favorite etsy shop that didn't make the list? Point me there! Want even more eco-friendly and local shopping inspiration? Check out my Giant List of Ethical and Eco-Friendly Shopping Lists. 

It is the time of year where we take down holiday decorations, look around, and wonder where all this stuff came from. Why do I always seem to be cleaning even though stuff is all over the place?!? Who bought us this collector set of Harry Potter sweaters? Why did I say yes to this 100 pack of puzzles? Where the heck did my floor go!?!?!?

If you look around your house and feel the same way, you are not alone. Modern humans, especially in America, are inundated with stuff to our detriment. It overruns our homes and actually detracts from our happiness (real studies are coming out proving this- like the one in the Boston Globe).

I think George Carlin summed up our stuff-centric lives best:

"That's all your house is. A place to keep your stuff while you go out and get more stuff."

Americans do have a lot of stuff. Way too much stuff. 

The average American home has over 300,000 objects in it. Think about that. If the average cost of each object is only 1 dollar, that is 300,000 dollars put into a home full of things we mostly don't need. That's a lot of plane tickets or donations or amazing experiences. Instead, it's just stuff to clean.

 At first, our hoarding might not seem like an environmental issue (more like we are all living slightly less tragic versions of Hoarders), but it causes all sorts of problems:

- We don't know what we have. We buy repeats of things we already own. We repeat purchases because we simply cannot keep track of 300,000 things. 

- We burn up fossil fuels and waste natural resources. American overconsumption has been pretty clearly linked to pollution and other environmental problems (hello, Climate Change). Our stuff travels long distances (more than most of us travel) burning fossil fuels as it comes.

-We create massive amounts of waste. This is a biggie. Let's use clothes as an example. Americans across the board have way too much clothes, most of which is unethically made to keep it very cheap. The average household (not Mariah Carey on cribs, AVERAGE) has 39 pairs of shoes. When you don't use it regularly, that's waste.

The problem is that the average american makes about 65 pounds of textile waste a year. A year! Americans as a whole are tossing out billions (yes billions) of textile waste.

And that's not all! All brand new clothes are now shipped in flimsy plastic bags to keep them from damage. If you have ever bought clothes online, you have received it in one. Those aren't reused. So every piece of new clothing also means a pointless piece of plastic waste.

Get it Out and Give it Away

You certainly don't have to be a Christian to see a ton of value in giving to others while also simplifying your own life. Reusing items isn't just about charity cases. We all need to fall in love with buying and offering used stuff to change our economy and .

So here is the challenge. 

Gift 2,019 items out of your home for someone else's use. 

2,019 is a big number (though it isn't even 1% of the 300,000 in your home), and I know digging into those piles or corners that never quite get worked through is an intimidating task. But we can all do this, the key is to just get started.

In other words, you can take your unneeded possessions and...

-Gift them. Who doesn't love some hand me downs? Your siblings or niece or neighbor down the road could use something that is old hat to you. People are struggling to make ends meet. It isn't just  a problem way out there somewhere, but a challenge so many you already know are facing. Especially for the biggest things (furniture, plate sets) and the smallest things (granola you aren't going to eat, old hangers, excessive nail clippers, etc), personally offering them makes sense.

 You could also try joining a freecycle group or the amazing Buy Nothing Project, which I constantly endorse because they build community, help you get rid of your stuff, and keep massive amounts of seeming junk out of landfills. If you haven't heard about them, check out their site and consider joining your local group. If you have but there is no group where you are, consider starting one and you will have done your good deed for the year.

- Donate them. So many things you don't need anymore could be of great use to an organization or individual. You can start with Goodwill or Salvation Army, but there are even places to donate old greeting cards, used wedding dresses, or the junky old sweaters no one wants to wear (Goodwill will take them too- please don't throw any textiles away in 2019- Zero textile waste this year).

-Sell them. Like I said, re-use doesn't have to be all about charity cases. If we all considered buying things used first, we could save tons of money, be more intentional about our shopping, and keep tons of good out of landfills. So, let this be the year you shop secondhand and resell yourself. There are TONS of facebook groups for Buying, Selling, and Trading (not to mention eBay), so check if your neighborhood has one. You may make a bit of money, and you know the person who bought it really wants it.

-Recycle them. Once you have tried all the other options (and before you toss all that trash), be sure you know what your recycling options are. Plastic film from your groceries can go back to some grocery stores to be recycled. Some lumber places will accept wood to make chips. There are so many options that might surprise you.

- Items you just throw away don't count toward that 2,019. This isn't just a challenge about spring cleaning your house (though that is good too) it's about acknowledging that so much of what we toss could still be useful to someone, and putting it back into the world to get more life.

Here are some easy tips to get started-

This is our third year of doing this (we haven't totally succeeded yet- one year we gifted 1400 things, and last year we gifted 1100). Even though we haven't met the number, we have learned a few things along the way. Also, yes, our house (and probably your house too) is so filled with stuff that we can do this one year and STILL have plenty of stuff to gift the next year. It is only 1% of your belongings. 

1. Make a Plan/ Keep a Record

 Pace yourself in a way that makes sense for you, but writing the plan down creates a real commitment. Do one room at a time, or write your gifting/ donating days into your planner. We got behind pretty quickly, so having a number assigned for each month can keep you aware of what is left to do.

At the same time, be sure you have somewhere to write how you are doing. We have a spot on our kitchen chalkboard where we keep track. It's pretty easy, and it feels satisfying to watch that number keep going up. You don't need an itemized list, just a simple number.

2 Join Local Gifting Groups

 Check out your local Buy Nothing or Freecycle groups (or start one!). Go visit your local consignment stores. Get a sense of what need is most immediate to you, and make giving a part of your regular facebooky life.

3. Make a Space

 When we were first gifting a lot on Buy Nothing, our dining room got taken over by stuff waiting to be picked up. It was a hot mess, but then it was all gone. Now, we have a corner of our basement where everything lands, but things that are being gifted are in a different spot than things we haven't offered yet. Those go to...

4. Stuff Purgatory

You run across things that would be useful if you just knew where the cord was, or that you would give to a certain person but you have to see if they want it. Have a space for those things. After a month, if they are still there, then they have to be donated. No reason to keep a big collection of question marks in your house.

5. Turn your Hangers

 Turn all your hangers the wrong way. When you put clean (see, used) clothes away, you can turn the back to the correct way. At the end of this season, see what never got used. Do this all year long, and you will be able to easily assess. Have too much kitchen stuff? Put a sticker on each and take it off when you use it.

6. Just Start! 

I know it can be intimidating to take that first step, but pick a closet and go. Once you start to shave things down, you will get that freeing, lighter feeling, and that can help you pick up momentum. We do ours in big waves, but every time we have a give away, I am anxious for the next one.


We are going through so many of the things you might want to purge. If you want specific answers, they may be here already. Check-

Batteries
CD and DVD Cases
Cell Phones
Dishes, Glasses, and Silverware
DVDs

Exercise Equipment
Hangers
Old Greeting Cards
Stuffed Animals
VHS Tapes
Wedding Dresses
Worn Out Clothing


If you have specific things you want to get rid of, but you aren't sure how to do it, please ask me! I will do the research for you to make things as easy and simple as possible. The idea here is to succeed!



Alright, I will check in from week to week with lots of answers on where to donate things. Be sure to come back to the site and let me know your goals and how it is going! It's a big challenge, but in a month or two, you will be so glad you did, and hundreds of other people will be putting your dust-catchers to use. That's amazing!

Want to make your home greener? No matter the size or location, you can limit your waste and make your house have a more positive impact on the environment. Check out the Green Home Page for thousands of ideas on how to do it.

Buckets

Cleaning Gloves

 Here are some green cleaning gloves from If You Care.

Clothespins 

If you are getting more hardcore about your footprint as a couple, you might decide that you will start line drying your clothes (or at least some? I am just plotting this, so no judgement here). To line dry, you will need clothespins. You can find them in LOTS of secondhand stores (and like 500 options on Ebay), since line drying isn't as popular as it once was. If not:

- These ones are made here in the US!

Compost Bin

 We have green waste in Seattle, but we also compost because it is SO FREAKING important! Honestly, I hope 5 years from now, everyone composts.  It turns all of your food and yard waste into something to be used again. A banana peel can decompose in days, but in a landfill, it may never decompose. Never. Using a compost bin like this can save the world from so much waste and get you great soil to grow things! I love this. So you need two composting vessels- one for in your kitchen, and one outside to do the composting in:

For Inside: 

- We use this one from Natural Home (we liked it so much we rebought it when the first lid escaped).

For Outside:

For a composter, you are looking for something with good reviews and no discussion of smells. Since most people who compost are already environmentally conscious, most outdoor compost bins are made of recycled plastic! Huzzah! Let's look:

- Good Ideas' compost bin is 90+ post-industrial plastic.
- Yimby is based out of Canada and makes a spinny version out of recycled plastic.
- Forest City Models has a dual batch composter, so you can test different combinations at once.
- This Spinbin looks like the most fun (and space efficient).
- Mantis also sells a pretty wide variety of compost bins, so you can find one that fits your needs.
- Nature's Footprint sells shelf versions, but I can't recommend it, because I don't understand how they work (worms? Something with worms. I know it sounds gross, but if you have a yard, you already have worms too).

from Full Circle on Amazon

Dish Brush and Cloths

We don't use a dish brush or cloth specifically for dishes, but I think it is a good idea, and you have lots of options:

- Redecker wood brushes have replacable heads, so it creates even less waste.
- Full Circle also sells  a wide variety of dish brushes with bamboo instead of plastic. Poke around, because this is their specialty and they have LOTS.

For dish cloths, Etsy has about a million sweet and homemade options, but you can find a few modern things too. My biggest advice is to skip microfiber- it sounds great but is sending billions of tiny plastic threads into the water.

Dust Buster

 If you want a small, hand-held vaccuum cleaner, Metro Vaccuum still makes their handheld vaccuum in the States. Also, check secondhand!

from The Refill Revolution

Duster

We really loved the Swiffer brand duster for a while, but not I think something reusable makes a lot more sense 9just keep an eye out for microfiers- it's not worth it!). Here are some good options:

-Marley's Monster has a washable and reusable duster that looks pretty jolly for a cleaning implement.
- MitsuyoDay makes reusable replacements for the actual swiffer duster if that is your thing!


If you are less attached to the LED aspect, you could try newcandescent lightbulbs, which are made in the US and seem to be much more energy efficient than the oldcandescent bulbs. If anyone tries these, let me know how they are!

Mops and Sweepers

 If you are an old-fashioned mop kind of family, you have a couple of options.

- Rubbermaid makes mop heads out of post-consumer recycled material here in the US.
-Unisan also makes mop heads out of 100% recycled materials.

For a more modern sweeper (like a Swiffer) or a modern mop, you can prevent the majority of your waste by getting reusable covers. We all love our swiffers, but their one time use inserts and all fresh plastic bodies aren't exactly great for the environment. In fact, they may just be the worst. So check out covers:

-Juniperseed mop pads are designed to replace swiffer pads (and I really like the color).
- We use simple crocheted pads like these from thecountryoak, ShadyCreekFarmNC, and WoodandYarnBarn.

- Finally, Bissell green sweeper instead, which has recycled parts and doesn't have any wasteful disposable inserts.

from generationMe

Paper Towels

I wrote ALL about paper towel options (and how it is way more affordable than you think!) on my Greening the Basics blog. Check it out and help me end our culture's addiction to virgin tree paper goods (because your spill is not worth a tree).

Even better than recycled paper is using Unpaper towels. These towels are made of cloth, but do the trick for all the jobs you use paper towels for now. We use the kind that snap into each other and roll up just like regular paper towels. I thought it would be a pain, but it is so easy! Here are some good ones:

- If you are starting from scratch, this 24 pack and holder could be the perfect solution.
- Marley's Monsters has packs of them without snaps to try.
- More unpapering from Etsy: fandcsewing, ThisJoyfulHomeetc, generationMe, TheEcotopia, and CreeksideKid.
- If you don't want snaps or fuss, these ones from Juniperseed would be perfect.
-Bamboo towels have great reviews. One roll lasts six months, so better, but I'd go cloth.

Rags

The average American throws out 65 lbs of textiles a year. I guarantee your rags are already in your house. Old t-shirts, underwear, and socks all work great.

- If not, at least buy 100% recycled rags, because there is no sense in doing anything else. Buffalo Industries sells boxes of recycled t-shirts perfect for cleaning.

Sponges 

 Sponges for cleaning and dishes have so many great alternatives to the plastic scrub or disposable sponge you use now. I could rave for days about unsponges, because they save money, are easily cleaned and WORK. Let's look:

- I LOVE the unsponges from marley'smonsters. Their design is so smart. Easily one of my favorite things in my kitchen.
- Again, etsy has tons of options so something will fit your dish-doing style: TheLittleWanderersCo, UpcycledCreationsCAD, and Huggable Earth.

If you want something a little more mainstream:
- Full Circle sells a sponge made of walnut shells that is compostable.
- Rubbits looks like regular sponges, but it is a loofah that is reusable and compostable. Perfect!
-Scoth Brite "Greener Clean" sponges are a quarter recycled paper and completely recyclable (but still plastic-wrapped. Use an unsponge).
-Full Circle makes scrubbers out of bamboo and loofah, so they biodegrade completely.
- Peachy Clean sells a sillicon scrubber (no idea if this works or not) that is made in Georgia from American materials.

Sponge Holder

This one from Uncommon Goods is pretty.
Etsy options- taniajulianceramics, Sawyer Ceramics, andersenpottery, LightaFire, and DowdHouseStudios.

Steamer

 Honestly, I would let the shower do it, but The Boy loves it. Our steamer did come in handy for hangng curtains, but I also burned the crap out of myself with it (maybe my fault). Maybe not worth it to buy? Check with your Buy Nothing if someone will let you borrow yours for the two times a year you need it. If you love steamy clothes, the Jiffy Garment Steamer is still made in the United States, and you can check their website for personal and travel versions as well.

Toilet Brush and Plunger

The worst of cleaning, and honestly the options didn't blow me away. Apparently no one really wants to think about this work.

- Redecker Wooden Toilet Brush is all wood instead of plastic. Supposedly great for longterm use. I love the one with a stand even more.

Trash Bags

 I did this research for my "newish Apartment" wishlist, and it is a tricky business. Looking for garbage bags, be sure to inspect reviews and what they really mean by "biodegradable." If it is plastic, it cannot and will not biodegrade. It just breaks into tiny pieces that will pollute the water and cannot be cleaned up.

The best solution is to either reuse paper grocery bags for your trash OR to just not use a bag at all (it sounds gross, but if you are tossing green waste separately, it actually should be a pretty dry bin.

If those won't work, I would recommend either biobags (here's a 13 gallon version) for green waste and recycled plastic trash bags for everything else. Because garbage bags never need to be made of fresh plastic. Here are your best options:

- Hefty Renew  makes 65% recycled plastic trash bag, and sends a message to the mainstream market.
- Webster Earthsense Bags are made of 75% recycled material.
- Seventh Generation is a pretty safe bet.
- If You Care sells 97% post-consumer recycled trash bags

Tubs

Tubtrugs, perfect for holding cleaning supplies, is made of 100% recycled (and non-toxic for those of you who are organic) materials. Perfect for a garage or basement organization?

Vacuum

 Well, these turned out to be a bummer (most mainstream sweepers are no good, and Oreck used to make 2 versions in the US, but I can't find any evidence this is still the case), but all is not lost!

- Maytag makes all of their vacuums in the US.
- Shop Vac has earned my loyalty by continuing to manufacture their (well-loved) sweepers in the United States!
- Metrovac also has my love for their Made in USA vacuum cleaners.



Want more green cleaning tips? Check out our Green Home page! So filled with ideas and tips!

A video has been floating around Facebook this week about how Americans are addicted to stuff (you can see it on my facebook page). In it, there is a little George Carlin quote that puts our addiction to shopping perfectly into perspective-

"That's all your house is. A place to keep your stuff while you go out and get more stuff."

Gah, so true.

Americans do have a lot of stuff. In fact, we all have way too much stuff. The average American home has over 300,000 objects in it. Think about that. If the average cost of one is 10 dollars, we have 3 million dollars put into a home full of things we mostly don't need. That's a lot of plane tickets or donations or amazing experiences.

 At first, our hoarding might not seem like an environmental issue (more like we are all living in light, less feces-filled versions of Hoarders), but it causes all sorts of problems.

We don't know what we have. We buy repeats of things we already own. How many sets of cards do you have in your house? How many big nights of bridge are you hosting? We repeat purchases because we simply cannot keep track of 300,000 things. 

We burn up fossil fuels and waste natural resources. American overconsumption has been pretty clearly linked to pollution and other environmental problems (hello, Climate Change). Our stuff travels long distances (more than most of us travel) burning fossil fuels as it comes. Think about how much power and energy it takes to make and move all these things we don't need or even want enough to pay an ethical amount for.

We create massive amounts of waste. This is a biggie. Let's look at clothes. Americans across the board have way too much clothes, most of which is unethically made to keep it very cheap. For example, on average, we own 39 pairs of shoes per household. So if your home has 2 people in it, you could wear a different pair of shoes every day for 2 weeks and still have some left over. This is all well and good (and makes me think of those celebrity Cribs closets with all that stuff, Mariah Carey is probably moving the average number up all by herself). We all have more clothes than we need, and cheap "fast fashion" keeps selling us on trends when we are in no danger of heading out naked.

The problem is that the average american makes about 65 pounds of textile waste a year. A year! Americans as a whole are tossing out billions (yes billions) of textile waste every year. And with polyester and other plasticy textiles out there now, tons of this will never biodegrade. That's just the clothes.

Alright, so that's a bummer, but the damage is already done, right? 

Well, we definitely can all work on buying less this year, but we can also do a world of good by turning our spring cleaning into a spring gifting. It's going to do a world of good to minimize the stuff in our house, especially when we pass those objects on to further use (NOT a landfill)

-You can Save Money, Skip Repeats- We buy so many things because we aren't sure whether we have it or not. Just removing doubles can clear some of the house and help you redefine what you actually "need."

- You get a Clearer House and Clearer Schedule. Cleaning out our stuff helps us have a much stronger sense of what we already have and what we actually need. The other big benefit of getting things out is that you will spend less time fighting through those same piles of clutter that just get moved from corner to corner (this is even truer for those of us with toddlers. You can test everything in your house by asking if it is worth an extra hour of cleaning, because picking things up off the floor a thousand times adds up).

- You Get to Help Others. What a nice thing, right? Lots of kids are out in the world with no toys, so if you give them 1/3 of your kids, you are really doing something good. Homeless people all over our country need warm blankets, hats, and socks. Like the ones in your closet. You can give away your wedding dress to a military bride or gift your old Christmas card to a fundraiser for kids with cancer. There are real things like this out there and EVERYWHERE, the trick is just to find them. So we are going to work on that.

- You Keep the Earth Cleaner. We have all been part of a purge before where you are so desperate to get things clean and quick that tons of useful stuff heads right to the dump. It may feel freeing, out of sight out of mind, but that stuff all goes somewhere, and it is polluting our world.

But the best part is you are actually doing double the good. Because you are not only keeping your stuff out of the landfill, but by giving it to someone else to use, they won't have to buy one as well. So you have cut consumption in half (at least! If we are talking baby clothes, a onesie can go through 5 or 6 kids before it's time to call it) AND one less thing will EVER make it to the landfill.


This, to me, is also a Christian mission. Jesus was pretty clear with the rich man (who could be any of us) that he needed to be willing to give up all his stuff and follow him, and the man balked at the suggestion. I spend a lot of time thinking about this story, because now I get that the request may seem like a sacrifice, but it also seems super liberating. It was a test, yes, but it was also a chance to be freed from the things that bound him most. I also don't think it is a coincidence that Christ's most notable moment of anger was about commerce infiltrating holy spaces. Our stuff absolutely gets in the way of our spiritual mission and our call to love others.

You may say "But B, we really don't have that much to give up" or "well, we did a big purge last year, so there isn't much left." If you have more than you absolutely need, then you can give some away. You will be surprised what you find to gift.

If we tithe 15% of our income to church every year, it makes sense to me that we would also tithe 15% of our stuff (that's 45000 objects. That's how out of control this problem is. I am suggesting a little over 1%) to people who need it more than we do.

You certainly don't have to be a Christian to see a ton of value in giving to others while also simplifying your own life. Reusing items isn't just about charity cases. We all need to fall in love with buying and offering used stuff to change our economy and .

Our generation has to be the first one to completely let go of the false promises of "new" and "having it all" if we don't want our children's world to look like the beginning of Wall-E. This isn't all that hyperbolic; our oceans are literally filling with plastic, our atmosphere is burning with smoke, and we destroy more every year with the model passed down to us. We need to share what we have and redefine what we need. We need to let go of things we don't use so someone else can use them and that much less lands in the garbage. If we all do this, we will have more money to buy the things we can't find used, and we will keep thousands of pounds of perfectly good stuff out of a landfill. That's amazing.

So here is the challenge. 

The Great Donate 2017 aims to get 2,017 items out of our home and into someone else's use. 

And I want you to try it too.

Send 2,017 items out of your home for re-use elsewhere. In other words, you can take your unneeded stuff and...

-Gift them. Who doesn't love some hand me downs? Your siblings or niece or neighbor down the road could use something that is old hat to you. People are struggling to make ends meet. It isn't a problem way out there somewhere, but a challenge so many you already know are facing. Especially for the biggest things (furniture, plate sets) and the smallest things (granola you aren't going to eat, old hangers, excessive nail clippers, etc), personally offering them makes sense.

 You could also try joining a freecycle group or the amazing Buy Nothing Project, which I constantly pimp because they build community, help you get rid of your stuff, and keep massive amounts of seeming junk out of landfills. If you haven't heard about them, check out their site and consider joining your local group. If you have but there is no group where you are, consider starting one and you will have done your good deed for the year.

- Donate them. So many things you don't need anymore could be of great use to an organization or individual. You can start with Goodwill or Salvation Army, but there are even places to donate old greeting cards, used wedding dresses, or the junky old sweaters no one wants to wear (Goodwill will take them too- please don't throw any textiles away in 2017).

-Sell them. Like I said, re-use doesn't have to be all about charity cases. If we all considered buying things used first, we could save tons of money, be more intentional about our shopping, and keep tons of good out of landfills. So, let this be the year you check out consignment stores or antique shops for clothes, kids' stuff (seriously, there is no reason to buy kids' stuff new), and house goods. You can also sell some of your least used stuff there. They also have TONS of facebook groups for Buying, Selling, and Trading (not to mention eBay), so check if your neighborhood has one. You may make a bit of money, and you know the person who bought it really wants it.

-Recycle them. Once you have tried all the other options (and before you toss all that trash), be sure you know what your recycling options are. Plastic film from your groceries can go back to some grocery stores to be recycled. Some lumber places will accept wood to make chips. There are so many options that might surprise you.

Very important to remember...

- Items you just throw away don't count toward that 2,017. In fact, I am going to try to do research on as many types of waste as possible to as few items as possible just end up in the garbage. This isn't just a challenge about spring cleaning your house (though that is good too) it's about acknowledging that so much of what we toss could still be useful to someone, and putting it back into the world to get more life.

2,017 is a big number (though it isn't even 1% of the 300,000 in your home), and I know digging into those piles or corners that never quite get worked through is an intimidating task. But we can all do this, the key is to just get started.

Here are some easy tips to get started-

1. Make a plan- My goal is to have 2,017 items donated this year, and I plan to do the bulk of that before March 31st. That means we have a big purge in store. But trying to take everything on at once just leaves me feeling overwhelmed, so I am going to do it one room at a time. There are about 12 weeks between now and the end of March, so I am planning to do about a room a week. Pace yourself in a way that makes sense for you, but writing the plan down creates a real commitment.

2 Join Local Gifting Groups- Check out your local Buy Nothing or Freecycle groups (or start one!). Go visit your local consignment stores. Get a sense of what need is most immediate to you, and make giving a part of your regular facebooky life.

3. Make a Space- When we are gifting a lot on Buy Nothing, our dining room gets taken over by stuff waiting to be picked up. It can be a hot mess, but then it is all gone. The age old wisdom is that to really clean, first you have to make a bigger mess. It's so true, so make sure you have a place for all that stuff to go on their way out the door, or you might go crazy and give up.

4. Establish a Stuff Purgatory- You run across things that would be useful if you just knew where the cord was, or that you would give to a certain person but you have to see if they want it. Have a space for those things. After a month, if they are still there, then they have to be donated. No reason to keep a big collection of question marks in your house.

5. Turn your Hangers- Turn all your hangers the wrong way. When you put clean (see, used) clothes away, you can turn the back to the correct way. At the end of this season, see what never got used. Do this all year long, and you will be able to easily assess. Have too much kitchen stuff? Put a sticker on each and take it off when you use it. You get the idea; there are a lot of ways to self-assess here.
6. Just Start! I know it can be intimidating to take that first step, but pick a closet and go. Once you start to shave things down, you will get that freeing, lighter feeling, and that can help you pick up momentum. I am going to write about this again next week, so have a goal to have given something away by then.



Alright, I will check in from week to week with lots of answers on where to donate things. Be sure to come back to the site and let me know your goals and how it is going! If you have a good pile going out, take a picture with the hashtag #greatdonate2017, so I can oogle your awesomeness. I will update you on our progress as well. It's a big challenge, but in a month or two, you will be so glad you did, and hundreds of other people will be putting your dust-catchers to use. That's amazing!

We are going through so many of the things you might want to purge. If you want specific answers, they may be here already. Check-

Worn Out Clothing
Hangers
Old DVDs
VHS Tapes
CD and DVD Cases
Dishes, Glasses, and Silverware
Old Greeting Cards


If you have specific things you want to get rid of, but you aren't sure how to do it, please ask me! I will do the research for you to make things as easy and simple as possible.

This month, to combine our efforts to have a clean house and my efforts to green my wardrobe, I am trying to clean out our closet. I always feel like I have nothing to wear, but I have plenty of items in my closet that I never wear. So the goal is to have better seasonal turnover and to get rid of more of the stuff I never wear. I know I still have way more than I need, and I spend a lot of time debating with myself about it because I am still grappling with baby weight. I think I let it enable me to hold onto things I may never fit into again (or that look very rough from my early post-baby phases). But the goal is to stop holding on to too much "what if" clothes and to focus on things I really love.

Honestly, some of this happens anyway, because The Boy and I share one closet and one dresser, so there isn't a ton of space to speak of. This isn't a Mariah Carey super closet (so many mini dresses! Way to be eco-friendly and buy less fabric).He and my step-dad turned it into a heavy lifting storage machine (yay Closet Maid Made in USA closet organizers), so more sneaks through than it needs to.

Being eco-friendly is not only about what you buy, it's about what you give away. If you are trying to take a leap into a more environmentally conscientious life, the best first step is to clean out the excess of what you already have. Some of this is pretty easy (like saying goodbye to my son's most annoying or unused toys), but with things we intertwine with our self-perception and identity, it can be harder to let go. I feel like I always linger around the same amount of wardrobe excess, but I struggle to figure out how to take it to the next level.

I researched strategies to pare down my closet, and I saw some great advice, so I thought I would share. Plus, it enables me to procrastinate going through my stuff.

My favorite suggestions come from the Five Step Wardrobe Cleanse from Joo Joo Azad. She also sees cleaning out your closet as social action,  "editing an overstocked inventory, not restocking." She gives five clear and logical steps to determine what to donate.

Info Mind has a Closet Detox Cheat Sheet which I love, because each item can go through the steps. I also like the "trial separation" suggestion, because it shows just how attached we get to our own closets!

Who What Wear has a very simple infographic about splitting your wardrobe into four piles. I love how simple (and kind of harsh) this strategy is. Could be helpful for people like me, who weirdly keep things they can't explain later.

Capsule Wardrobes are pretty popular right now, and the idea truly is genius. Capsule Wardrobes have actually been around since the 70's, but they are picking up speed now. The idea is that rather than having a large wardrobe, you keep a very small wardrobe of staple pieces. These items should be within a chosen color scheme, made of quality fabrics, and in a shape you know flatters you. It's a way to completely simplify your wardrobe. Boulevard House offers a great example of one, Cladwell offers great explanations and the opportunity to plan your own capsule, and Pinch of Yum sets out a simple guideline for starting your own capsule wardrobe.

For our purposes, one of the best things about this idea is that you are focusing on what you really want, not what you don't want. So you pick your capsule, and unless you think the item belongs in another season's capsule, it's out. That simple. I think it's actually a more positive spin on the edit.

Buzz Feed has a pretty good summary of a lot of the tips you see over and over again- get everything out before you make decisions, ask questions like "Have I worn this in the last 6 months?" "If I saw it in the store, would I buy it?" and to turn your hangers when you wear something, so you have a more accurate record of what you actually wear.

I will point out, the things they say to toss you should STILL donate. Ripped clothes and underwear can be used as cleaning rags if nothing else, just make sure to really wash them first. Just tossing things solves the problem for you, but doesn't help the bigger picture AT ALL. Donate, Reuse as cleaning rags. Do not throw away perfectly usable fabric. This article has an awesome list of where you can send specific items.

Where I am Landing: I love the capsule idea, but because I am a dress wearer and am generally not a neutrals girl, I feel like I have to jimmy i I would like to manage my closet like I am packing for a trip that will last me the whole season. I figure if we are packing for a trip that lasts more than two-three weeks we assume we will do laundry every two to two and a half weeks. So that's how much clothes we need, with special events thrown in. No more than 20 outfits? I am pretty sure I have more than that just in dresses, so I really have a challenge ahead of me! It still seems like a lot in comparison to the capsules, but I think I can keep slimming it down.

How I am planning on keeping this up? I am setting a SERIOUS LIMIT for myself. I can only buy myself two items of clothing new per season. If I need more than that, I have to get it used. By having this limit, I imagine I will be more thoughtful about what I pick based on what I absolutely need. I know I have bought tons of items just because they were on sale, or I kind of liked it, or it was there and I was shopping. I think we could all formalize our limits and stick to them as a way to avoid this temptation!

Have a beautiful, organized closet? Share pictures with me- I can use the inspiration! Do you have any wisdom to share? How much clothes do you think the right amount is?